Prognosis of oral cancer

The prognosis depends on whether the cancer is localized, regional, or metastatic at the time of diagnosis. For oral cavity and pharynx cancer, 29.8% are diagnosed at the local stage and the 5-year survival for localized oral cavity and pharynx cancer is 83.7%. The overall 5-year survival rate for oral cavity and pharynx cancer patients during the period 2007-2013 was 64.5%.

The percent of cancer deaths is highest among people aged 55-64 and death rates are higher among males, particularly those of African American descent.
Death rates have been stable over 2005-2014.

In 2014, there were an estimated 346,902 people living with oral cavity and pharynx cancer in the United States and in 2017 there are an estimated 9,700 people will die of this disease (13).